Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-04-02
MY LIFE l. ESSUN.

MY LIFE LEssUN.
had been sitting long at the win.
dow. watching know not what, See.
ing | know not whom, for though the
throng OF people passed, and the flakes
of snow held high war in the air, leav-
ing feathery darts on the coats of the
passers.by, or following in mad chase
around the corner, yet all came and
went unheeded by me. was as one
having eyes, yet seeing not.
had been sitting In this listlcss
State, wondering in what way could
make myself of some note in the world.
l thought over the long list Of accom-
plishments which | had known and
read of others attaining, but money
and talent were necessary. Of the
former, you would see that it had been
scantily meeted out to me, would you
but peep at the cheap paper hangings,
few books and fewer pictures. which
had served their generation, and now
| stood enjoying humble intimacy with
each other in the little room where
was seated, which served as parlor,
sitting rooin, or both.
Had / a talent, / am sure it lay
buried on the floor OF my mind crushed
by the multitude of common. place
things that necessarily fill the mind of
girl whose position is "mother's
right hand" could find no poetry
in the splash of the water, while l was
engaged at the homely work of dish
washing; and could lofty thought
have arisen while was welding my
broom, the young germ was soon
choked, or did it survive for awhile in,
the dust, it soon escaped to the sister
hood of imagery.
These were the substs nee of my
thoughts in this early winter twilight,
and hastily drew the shades, wishing
that ] might as easily draw veil
over my dissatisfied mind did want
to be content in that position in which
God had placed me, and to that end I
earnestly prayed; but l am afraid that
while asked TO be content | was
hoping 1t might be in some nobler
sphere, and 50 l turned my back on
the small duties that grew in my path,
thus making my life more and more
wretched.
One evening not long afterward, as|
! was preparing supper in our little
kitchen, heard voice very softly
and sweetly singing the familiar song
"llome, Sweet Home" The voice
was SO pathetic that could not resist
opening the door, and there in the
back yard stood woman. She stop
ped singing as she saw me, and came
forward to where ! was standing. II
soon learned that, every other means
failing, she had thought of using her
voice in singing, hoping to earn a lit
tie each night to help support her sick
sister and herself. From her face and
manner judged her to be no common
beggar, and giving her some change,
| resolved to visit her home the next
day.
Down to the North End | went,
passing gin shops where dirty women
and men stood lounging and drinking
over the counter, filling the air with
the vile odor of their breath, then on
20 where the emblematic balls of the
pawnbroker hung so low that they
seemed to reach and leave their i'm
press of woe ON each passer .by-on.
and still on, walked, until l found
myself in q. Court. As looked at
the wretchcd houses and the groups OF
uncared-ior children, who, though
young, had faces grown long and thin
by wants pinching grip, wondered
whether human Lille really could exist
in such place.
The question was soon answered
when ! found the home, or rather
room, of The sisters; tor not only was
there human life, but also life whose
substance was drawn from above rest
ed there. could not keep back my
surprise at the perfect happiness saw
amid such great aflliction; for both
sisters were advanced in life, with
want continually staring ut them, yet
their faces bore the marks of patient
resignation to Gods will.
Seeing the sufferer smile,as she held
out her hand to me, said,-
'You seem very happy"
"lndeed l am, she replied. "What
should make one happier than the
knowledge of being the child of al
king. and that king Christ? All l can
do is to sit here, yet l have learned
that they also serve who patiently
watt"
1t all flashed upon my mind in al
moment; God had sent me here to
learn my life lesson. If this poor suf-
ferer could serve God by patient wait
ing, then I also could serve him in the
round of my daily cares, which indeed
is the highest aim in life. The plain,
homely work must be done, as well as
the lily work carving; and it mat
tiers not what, if each day finds the|
chisel cutting deeper and deeper to the
glory of God.
That day my real life began; my
plain old home became sacred and
lovely spot, my longing soul was sat
isfied with its mission, ready to enter
the battle of life that God had planned,
4 - T. a L